Benefits of Accreditation
Benefits for the Institution
- The pursuit of accreditation reinforces a commitment to continuous improvement, innovation, and scholarship.
- The process of preparing an accreditation self-study enhances the focus on quality of student learning and renews a commitment to the educational mission.
- The recognition of effective behavior analysis programs through accreditation contributes to a more positive review by regional accreditors, as specialized accreditation is a confirmation of quality programming in specific divisions.
- An accredited status creates greater visibility for the institution.
- Accreditation provides prestige and credibility when seeking funding resources from donors, foundations, and governments.
- In some states, having an accredited status contributes heavily to performance-based funding.
- Accreditation leads to more successful articulation of behavior analysis credits.
- The accredited institution can utilize press releases to advertise their accredited program status.
- Accredited status may be printed in the college catalog.
- Accredited status may be printed on business cards.
- Accredited status may be posted on the college website.
- Accreditation provides a sense of pride within the institution.
Benefits for the Behavior Analysis Program
- Accreditation creates a process for continuous departmental improvement.
- Accreditation provides the impetus for identifying strengths and weaknesses.
- Accreditation keeps behavior analysis programs current through curriculum development.
- Accreditation provides a forum for review and analysis of the behavior analysis unit.
- Accreditation promotes an outcomes assessment process linking goals, activities, and outcomes.
- Accreditation creates guidelines for faculty credentials, which leads to higher standards in hiring, increased scholarly and professional activities, and more focused faculty development decisions.
- Accreditation creates guidelines when structuring programs.
- Accreditation provides a platform to share ideas and to question the status-quo, leading to effective change.
- Accreditation is a source of pride among program faculty, staff, and students.
- Accreditation validates quality of work in the behavior analysis program.
- The behavior analysis program realizes greater local prestige through accreditation.
- Accreditation provides leverage when seeking on-campus resources.
- Accredited status leads to a more effective acquisition of technology.
- Accreditation status is referenced when submitting budgets, grant proposals, and course/program proposals.
- Accredited status assists in recruitment of faculty.
- Accreditation activities are communicated to the Board of Trustees.
- Accredited status may be printed on Behavior Analysis Division stationery.
- Accredited status may be printed on course syllabi.
- The certificate of accreditation may be prominently displayed.
- Accredited status may be printed on brochures and newsletters.
Benefits for Faculty and Staff
- Accreditation provides a sense of pride within the behavior analysis faculty and staff when national peers have validated a program.
- Faculty members at accredited institutions are provided opportunities to keep current in quality procedures through seminars.
- Faculty experience a boost of self-esteem when teaching in an accredited behavior analysis program.
- Accreditation provides professional development and leadership opportunities for faculty and administrators in development of outcome assessments and conducting site visits to other institutions.
Benefits for Students
- Accreditation creates the impetus for relevancy and currency of faculty, programs, and courses to best serve students.
- The pursuit of accreditation enhances the ability to serve students by assuring a focus on quality performance.
- Accredited status requires an ongoing effort to provide excellent equipment, software, and learning resources for students.
- Accredited status reaffirms the commitment to effective student services.
- Students refer to accreditation status on resumes and in employment interviews.
Benefits for the Community
- Accredited status provides recognition of the ability to serve community stakeholders.
- Accreditation creates the impetus for relevancy and currency of faculty, programs, and courses to best serve employers.
- External advisory committees learn the importance of accreditation.
*This list is adapted from http://www.acbsp.org/?value_accreditation